Fountain-pen.



No. '724,983'. PATENTED APB.. 7, 1903. P. E. WIRT.

FOUNTAIN PEN.

APPLIGATIONFILED JAN. 12. 1903.

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No. 724,983. PATENTED APR. 7, 1903.

P. E. WINT. J FOUNTAIN PEN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 1903.

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Unirse rares artnr trice.

PAUL E. YVIRT, OF BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

srncrrrcnrrolv fol-ming pari: of Letters Patent No. 724.983, crateri April '7, 190s. Application led January' l2, 1903. Serial No. 138,725. (No model.)

To all whom, t may con/cern:

Be it known that l, PAUL E. VIRT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomsburg, in the county of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Fountain-Pens, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fountainpens,and particularly to an improvement in the feeding means thereof.

The main object, therefore, of the invention is to associate with the pen-'point and the reservoir of a fountain-pen a practical type of feeder of great simplicity and ease of adjustment, while at the same time producing a means for attracting the ink downward to the nibs whereby a most desirable and reliable fiow of ink is provided for, and yet obviating the flooding or skipping common to many of the fountain-pens on the market.

It is well known to those familiar with the art that it is very important to have the inksupply at the nibs or pen-point suspended in such a manner-that it will flow easily from the pen with as little skipping as possible. In the average type of fountain-pens it very often occurs that even though there may be au apparent and plentiful supply of ink at and about the end of the feeder the same does not readily leave the point of the pen and have an even smooth flow by reason of the atmospheric pressure upon the column of ink within the reservoir. In other words, the construction of the feeder at the nibs, its size, adjustment, or other structural details may be such that oftentimes the ink is prevented from running off onto the paper on account of a slight back pressure produced by the atmosphere seeking to replace withdrawn ink within the reservoir. This difficulty is commonly met with in the manufacture and use of many fountain-pens, and the improvement contemplated by the present invention is intended to provide a novel construction and arrangement of parts which will effectually counteract the back-pressure tendency referred to, thus insuring a more ready working of the pen.

A further object of the linvention is to so dispose or arrange the means or vent for admitting air as to best secure the objects to be attained.

With these and many other objects in View, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential feature of the invention involved in the novel arrangement of the feeder or feed-'bar with reference to the pen-point is susceptible to some modification; but the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanyingr drawings, in which-f Figure 1 is a sectional view of the feeding end of a fountain-pen, showing the improved feeding means associated with the pen-point and the reservoir. Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view ou the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an inverted perspective View of the pen-point and the feeder or feed-bar arranged in operative relation thereto. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view showing a modication in which the air-vent is provided in the peu-point and the feed-bar left entirely imperforate.. Fig. 5 is anothermodification showing that a short-length feed-bar may be employed with practical results. Fig. 6 is a detail modification of the feed-bar, suggesting the expedient of forming the holdingplug integral therewith instead of separate therefrom. Figs. '7 and 8 are detail sectional and perspective views, respectively, showing a modified form of the terminal distributing-foot at the outer or lower end of the feed-bar. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the feeding end of the pen, showing in full lines the adjustable flowregulator associated with the feeder and penpoint. Fig. lO is a cross-section on the line 10 l0 of Fig. 9. Fig. l1 is a detail in perspective of the flow-regulator.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the separate iig uresof the drawings.

The improvement contemplated by the present invention is applicable to all types of fountain-pens, particularly of the underfeed type, and which are of such formation as to permit of the employment of a feeder, feedbar, feed-tongue, or feed-shaft, presenting a substantially flat surface next to the penpoint to permit of the formation of capillary IOC) channels or grooves in the manner provided for by the invention.

The 'improvement claimed isv exemplified by the several figures of the drawings, and referring thereto the numeral l designates a tubular holder'of the ordinary form, which provides the interior reservoir 2 of required capacity for holding a supply of ink. The holder l carries at its lower or feeding-out end a pen-bearing section or nozzle 3 of some form; but for illustrative purposes this penbearing section is shown as of the detachable type and having the usual bore or passageway 4 in direct communication with the reservoir 2 and constituting the lower part of such reservoir. Irrespective of the construction of the pen-bearing section or nozzle and the manner of connecting the same with the reservoir-holder the said element receives in the outer or lower end thereof the pen-point 5, having the usual nib portion 6, designed to be detachably held in position by the holding-plug 7 of segmental or semicylindrical form and lying between the inner wall of the pen-bearing section 4 and the outer side of the feeder 8. The holding-plug? not only acts in the capacity of a retaining means for the pen-point, but also serves to lock the feeder in place in operative relation tothe pen-point. There is an inner frictional wedging action of the plug 7within the mouth of the pen-bearing section or nozzle Ll to firmly fasten the coperating elements in position, while at the same time permitting of the easy removal thereof for purposes of repair or adjustment. The said plug 7 is illustrated in Figs. l and 2 as consisting of a separate piece or body; but it will of course be understood that in the carrying out of the invention the same could'be formed integral with the pen-bearing section or nozzle or integral with the feeder itself, as suggested in Fig. 6 of the drawings, without departing from the spirit of the invention or affecting the use of said plug in holding the parts in assembled relation.

The essential feature of the invention resides in the special operative relation which the feeder 8 bears to the pen-point 5. This provides a most desirable and reliable flow of the ink and for the withdrawal of the ink as nearly as possible at about the same point as the air is admitted for the usual purpose.

Referring particularly to the construction and arrangement of the feeder 8, it is to be observed, in the first place, that.l the said feeder is-of very simple formation and readily separable from and fitted to the point of the pen. Preferably this feeder consists of a comparatively narrow at feed bar or shaft of the usual material and ofany desired length best suited for the particular pen with which it may be associated. The invention may be carried lout-by employinga feed baror shaft of a short length and not extending outside of the plane of the pen-point, as suggested by the illustration in detail Fig. 5 of the drawings; but the preferable construction is shown in the other figures and consists in making the bar or shaft sufficiently long to extend a material distance in rear of the pen-point, so as to project into the reservoir and provide a longer feeding-surface, while at the same time caus` ing the ink to drip back into the reservoir quickly when through using the pen and the same is inverted. In all modifications of the feed baror shaft the saine arrangement thereof with reference to the pen-point is preserved. This provides for fitting or arranging the feed bar or shaft within the concavity of the penpointwith its lateral and outer terminal edges in continuous contact therewith to produce capillary attractive channels along the line of such contact.

As may be plainly seen from Figs. l, 2, and 3 of the drawings, the feed bar or shaft is of such a width as to lie within the concavity of the pen-point and extend longitudinally thereof to a point against the nibs where the ink is drawn out for the tip of the pen-point. This contact of the feed-bar of the pen-point is a close-lying one, so as to leave no air-openings or ink-escape spaces about the edges of the feeder at any point within the pen-point. By reason of the arrangement of the feed bar or shaft 8 longitudinally within the concavity of the pen-point, in contact with the side flanges or wings of the latter, there are provided along the line of contact between the said edges ofthe feed-bar and the adjacent inner sides of the pen-point the longitudinally-extending lateral ink-flowing channels 9, While the main closed chamber provided between the upper side of the feed-bar and the under side of the pen-point is left open and unobstructed to form an air-passage 10 in communication with the reservoir and providing a direct air-passage for the upward circulation of air as the ink circulates downward along the corners of the chamber where the ink-owing channels 9 are provided. To secure a reliable flow of the ink and a proper feeding thereof to the nib portion 6 of the penpoint, it is necessary to maintain a close-lying contact between the pen-point and the entire edge portion of the feeder or feed-bar lying therein. 'lhis result is preferably attained by forming the feed-bar at its outer or lower end with an upwardly-deflected sealing-terminal ll, which is disposed directly under the nibs or nib portion 6 and is arranged to have its capillary surface closely in contact with such portion and extending transversely across the same, as may be plainly seen from Figs. l and 3 of the drawings. This sealing-terminal ll constitutes a distributing-foot which serves to hold the ink suspended in loop form transversely across the nibs. To render the said foot effective in performing this function, the same is preferably expanded or widened to produce a welldefined capillary surface which contacts with the pen-point beneath the nibs.

The form of the distributing-foot or terminal ll may be Varied somewhat without af- IPO nintese fecting the results to be accomplished, and a modification thereof;` is suggested in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. In this suggested modification the feed-bar is formed at its outer or lower end with a tapered convexed lateral offset 11a, whose rounded surface 12 constitutes the capillary surface of the terminal or foot, which extends transversely across the nib portion of the pen-point,in contact therewith. This rounded capillary surface 12 is of the same form and performs the same function in the shapel of feeder shown in Figs. 7 and 8 as it does in the bent type of feed-bar or feeder shown in the group of Figs. 1 to 6,inclusive. By reason of the deflection or offsetting of the distributing-foot or terminal 11 the latter entirely closes in the chamber between the feed-bar and the upper side of the pen-point, and by reason of the rounding form of the capillary surface 12 the latter constitutes a close-lying continuation, transversely across the nibs of the pen, of the capillary channels 9, produced at the longitudinal side edges or surfaces 9a of the feed-bar. Hence there is no interruption of the continuity of contact vbetween the pen-point and the side and terminal surfaces 9pb and 12 of the feed-bar.

It is also desirable in the carrying out of the invention that provision be made for the entrance of air as nearly as possible at the point Where the ink is withdrawn to the paper in the act of writing. This disposition of the air-vent insures against iiooding or a precipitous running of the ink, and the desired result is preferably accomplished by providing the feed bar or shaft 8 in the extreme lower end or deiiected terminal thereof with an air vent or opening 13. This air veut or opening 13 therefore permits of air entering to replace the withdrawn ink at substantially the point where theink is Withdrawn by the nibs. In this construction the air vent or opening 13 in the feed bar performs the additional function of an ink-holding loop, which retains superfiuous ink as it comes down along the edges of the feed-bar. This loop iills up with the superfluousink and effectually dams up the airpassage until said superfluous ink is written off. Also the opening or loop 13 is of sufficient size as to compel a complete separation of the streams of ink aiong the sides of the feeder until the same merge on the distributing-foot transversely beneath the nibs of the penpoint.

Of course the air-feeding idea maybe modied--such, for instance, as having the feedbar entirely imperforate and providing thev pen-point itself with an air-vent le directly contiguous to the nibs, so as to supply the air at practically the point where the ink is withdrawn by the nibs. Also where no opening or loop at all is provided in either the feed-bar or the pen-point the air will necessarily enter at the lower extremity of the feed-bar as the nibs are pressed up,- ward in the act of writing. It is at this point that the opening or communication with ink in the reservoir occur, and therefore air must enter there, although the expedient of the perforation or hole 13 in the feed-bar has its practical advantages inproviding the inkholding loop referred to.

In the operation of the pen equipped with a feeder arranged as described the ink is led down to the point of the pen along the corners 9 of the passage 10, while the air ascends the main central part of the said passage. Also by reason of the upward deflection of the outer end of the feed-bar and the continuous contact of its surface 12 the film of ink is drawn and held across the slit in the pen, so as to readily flow from that point.

An improved auxiliary to the feeding means herein described resides in the em- V ployment of a flow-regulator, preferably of an adjustable type. This iiow-regulator is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings and in full lines in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. The said dow-regulator is designated in its entirety by the reference 15, and essentially consists of a substantially straight main shaft-section 16 of any suitable cross-section, preferably rectangular, and provided at one end with a tapered regulating-nose 17, slightly offset to one side of the longitudinal plane of the main shaft section and Whose tapering extremity is adapted to protrude more or less into the inner open end of the feeding channel or chamber 10, provided between the pen 5 and the feed-bar 8. The said tapered regulating-nose 17 is provided.at one side with a dat rest-face 18, adapted to rest fiat upon the upper side of the feed-bar 8, and at the opposite side has a rounded surface or back 19 curving into the point of the nose and also constituting a wedge portion which assists in holding the regulator in place within the pen-bearing section or nozzle within which it is located. The main shaft-section 16 of the regulator is of sufficient length to extend well into the reservoirto assist in the feeding of the ink out into the main feeder and also draining it back into the reservoir when the pen is inverted after using. To assist these functions, the said shaft-section 16 may also be formed with a channeled feeding side 20,preferably formed in the upper face of the shaft.

The flow-regulator 16 may or may not be used, as desired. It is of special utility, particularly where a large case or reservoir and pen are employed and where it is consequently much more difcult to retain the ink within and alonga narrow or contracted tube. By adj nsting the nose 17 more or less into the rear end of the feeding channel or chamber l() the iiow of ink can be controlled or regulated, and while various ex'pedients inay be IIO IZO

resorted to for holding the regulator in posii tion, still, at the same time permitting of adjustment thereof, a practical arrangement is shown in the drawings, which involves the holding of the regulator body or section in place, principally by friction, between the regulator and the upper side of the feed-bar and the upper side of the inner surface of the pen-bearing section or nozzle, also possibly by the slight frictional engagement of the point or nose of the regulator within the feeding channel or chamber between the feeder and the pen. It will be obvious that by reason of thus mounting the regulator the same can be moved more or less into the 'feedingchannel, and hence widen or narrow such channel at the point where it receives its supply from the reservoir, according to the How desired. The flow-regulator is also useful and desirable as a means to better attract the ink down between the pen and the feeder or at least to better start it down the narrow and comparatively at channel between the pen and the feeder. regulator projecting a short distance within the open end of the channel between the feedbar and pen it necessarily serves as a leader and also as a dam or slight obstruction t0 prevent sudden ow or fall from the reservoir upon the nibs, hence being acheck as well as an attracting medium. These functions are subserved irrespective of the adj ustability of the regulator. Another function to note in conjunction with theregulator is that on account of the nose thereof lying a short distance within the feedingchannel a slight moisture or film ofinkis better retained about the parts and surfaces between the feeder and the pen at that point, so that the interior spaces do not dry off so quickly and the pen starts more readily when first used. Furthermore, the main shaft-section extending back into the reservoir serves to assist in dripping or draining the gener-al body of ink backinto the reservoir from the nozzle after usingthe pen. This function is rendered positive by reason of the main shaft-section of the regulator lying closely against the interior surface of the pen -bearing section at one side thereof. A

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, action, and many advantages of the herein-described improvement will be readily apparent without further description, and it will also be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing'any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the holder carrying the pen-point, of a feed bar or shaft lying within the concavity of the pen with its adjoining lateral and outer terminal surfaces in continuons contact there- By reason of the nose of the the holder carrying the pen-point, of a feed bar or shaft lying within the concavity of the pen with the portion therein having its lateral longitudinal surfaces in close contact therewith, and having its outer terminal surface also in contact with the point transversely of the nibs and directly continuing the contact of the side surfaces to constitute means for holding a loop of ink in suspense across the nibs.

3. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the holder carrying the pen-point, of a Hatfaced feed bar or shaft lying within the concavity of the point with its adjoining lateral and longitudinal surfaces in contin nous contact therewith, and having an outer terminal whose surface contacts with the point transversely of the nibs and directly continues the contact of said lateral surfaces to constitute means for holding a loop of ink in suspense across the nibs.

4. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the holder carrying the pen-point, of a flatfaced feed bar or shaft lying within the concavity ofthe pen-point with the portion therein having its lateral surfaces in continuous contact therewith, and having at its outer end an upwardly-deflected sealing-terminal provided with a curved surface contacting with the point transversely of the nibs and directly continuing the contact of the lateral surfaces.

5. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the holder carrying the pen-point, of a feed bar or shaft lying within the concavity of the point with its adjoining lateral and outer terminal surfaces in continuons contact therewith to provide capillary channels along the line of such contact, and'means for admitting air contiguous to the outer terminal contact of the feed-bar.

6. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the holder carrying the pen-point, of a flatfaced feed bar or shaft held longitudinally within the concavity of the point with the portion therein having its lateral longitudinal surfaces in continuous contact therewith, said feed-bar being provided at its outer end with an upwardly-deected terminal having a curved surface contacting with the point transversely of the nibs and also having therein an air-vent providing an ink-holding loop.

7. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the holder carrying the pen-bearing section, of the pen-point having within the pen-bearing section a holding-plug, and a flat feed bar or shaft interposed between the plug and the pen-point, said feed bar or shaft being held longitudinally within the concavity of` the pen-point with the portion therein hav- TOO IIO

the contact of said lateral surfaces.

S. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the holder carrying the pen-point, of a feeder arranged in spaced relation to the pen to provide an intervening feeding-channel, and a flow-regulator arranged to project into one end of said channel and having a point lying against the feeder.

9. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the holder carrying the pen-point, of a feedbar arranged in spaced relation to the pen to provide an intervening feeding-channel, and a dow-regulator arranged in the pen-bearing section and having a regulating-nose projecting into the inner open end of said channel and having a point lying against the feeder.

10. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the holder carrying the pen-point, of a feedbar arranged in spaced relation to the pen to provide an intervening feedingchannel, and an adj ustably-monnted lowregnlator located within the pen-bearing section and having a nose projecting into the inner open end of the 1 feeding-channel, the point of said nose lying against the feed-bar.

ll. In a fountainpen,the combination with the holder carrying the pen-point, of a feedbar arranged in spaced relation to the pen to provide an intervening feeding-channel, and a How-regulator held in position Within the penebearing section between the feed-bar and one side of the pen-bearing section and having a regulating-nose projecting a distance through one end of the channel, the point of said nose lying against the feed-bar.

l2. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the holder carryinfr the pen-point, of a feedbar arranged in spaced relation to the pen to provide an intervening feeding-channel, and a now-regulator fitted within the pen-bearing section and consisting of a main shaft-section extending back into the reservoir, and a tapered regulating-nose having a Hat side or face resting on the feed-bar and whose point extends a distance into the said channel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL E. VIRT.

Witnesses:

C. N. FUNsToN, R. L. ORANGE. 

